Convertible bed



Dec. 25, 1962 r z, LANDE 3,069,699

CQNVERTIBLE BED Filed July 15, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet -1 Hil United States Patent 3,069,699 CONVERTIBLE BED Bernard Z. Lande, Denver, Colo., assignor to Lande Mfg. (10., Inc., Denver, Colo., a corporation of Colorado Filed July 15, 196i), Ser. No. 43,135 1 Claim. (Cl. -59) This invention relates to an improved combination sofa and bed. The principal object of the invention is to provide a highly efficient sofa-bed combination which can be quickly and easily converted into either a bed for overnight use or into a sofa for daytime use so that a single article of furniture will efficiently serve for two independent articles. Such a combination is particularly useful in hotels, motels and apartments where floor space is limited so that a single room can be quickly converted into either a fully and properly equipped living room or a complete bedroom, as desired.

A further object of the construction is to so construct the combination sofa-bed that when used as a bed, all of the sofa elements will be completely removed from the bed surface so as not to interfere in any way with the full use of the bed.

Another object is to provide a convertible construction of this character which can fit snugly against the wall in either the sofa or the bed position and which, when in the sofa position, will provide space for storing pillows and bedding for use in the bed position.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efiiciency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved sofa-bed combination arranged for sofa or daytime use;

FIG. 2 is a similar perspective view illustrating the invention arranged as a complete bed for nighttime use;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the convertible bed when in the bed position of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an end view thereof as it would appear in the sofa position of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical cross section through the rear portion of the improved sofa-bed combination when in the bed position of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a similar enlarged cross section illustrating the invention in the sofa position.

The invention employs a conventional, rectangular, elongated, spring box or bed frame 10 of any suitable construction supported upon the usual floor-engaging legs 11 and provided with a pad or mattress 12 corresponding in shape, size, and contour to the bed frame 10 and supported by the latter. This invention is designed to be attached to the bed frame 10 to provide a sofa back, as shown in FIG. 1, for living room purposes.

The invention comprises two, vertical, spaced-apart back posts 13 and 14 preferably terminating at their lower extremities in conventional casters 15. The posts 13 and 14 are notched, as shown at 16, to receive the rear side of the bed frame 10, to which they are secured in vertical, spaced relation by means of suitable attachment bolts 17. The fronts of the posts 13 and 14- are notched at their upper extremities to receive and support a horizontal fixed back frame member 18 which is fixedly mounted in the notches by means of suitable attachment screws or bolts 19.

An elongated top panel member 20 is hinged throughout its entire length to the upper forward edge of the back frame member 18 by means of a horizontally-ex- 3,069,699 Patented Dec. 25, 1962 tending lower piano hinge 21. An elongated rectangular sofa back frame 22 is similarly hinged throughout its entire length to the forward top edge of the top panel member 20 upon an upper piano hinge 23.

The hinges 21 and 23 allow the top panel member 20 and the sofa back frame 22 to be swung to a perfectly vertical bed position on the fixed back frame member 18, as shown in FIG. 5, or to a forwardly and downwardly extending sofa position with the top panel member 20 horizontal and the sofa back frame 22 inclined, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. The panel member 20 and the back frame 22 are supported in the vertical position of FIGS. 3 and 5 by means of a conventional foldable dead-center type toggle brace 24, such as used in furniture manufacturing for supporting hinged table leaves and the like.

The foldable brace 24 is hinged at 25 to the backframe 22, as shown at 26, to the horizontal back frame member 18 and when in the extended position of FIG. 5, the brace cannot be collapsed until its midportion is drawn outwardly past the dead center of the brace to allow it to swing to an angular position, as shown in FIG. 6.

, An end flap 27 is hinged transversely to each extremity of the top panel 20 on a transverse hinge 28. The end flaps are shaped to provide a relatively narrow upper edge, to which the hinge 28 is attached, and a relatively wide lower edge 29 parallel to the narrow upper edge and which rests upon the mattress 12. The end flaps are also provided with a rear edge 30, at right angles to the upper and lower edges and of a length to extend from the lower panel hinge 21 to the top of the mattress 12, and with a rearwardly inclined front edge having a length substantially equal to the width of the sofa back frame 22 so as to support the latter in the inclined position of FIG. 6.

The back frame 22 is perferably provided with a suitable cushion 32 and is completely surround by a fabric covering 33. The top panel member 20 is also preferably covered by means of a suitable fabric covering 34 to match the covering 33.

It is believed that the use of the invention will be apparent from the above. Briefly, the back frame with its cushion 32 and its covering 33 forms an ornamental, comfortable back rest allowing the major portion of the mattress 12 to be used as a seat for a sofa. For sleeping purposes, it is only necessary to lift the back frame 22 upwardly and rearwardly to the vertical position of FIG. 5 causing the foldable brace 24 to assume a straight, supporting position. As the top panel member 20 swings upwardly, the end flaps will swing upwardly and forward- 1}, as indicated in broken line in FIG. 5, and can then be simply folded back against and over the hinges 21 and 23, as shown in FIG. 2 so as to not interfere in any way with the use of the bed. The pillow or pillows, indicated at 35, can be stored when in the sofa position in the open space rearward of the back frame 22 and below the top panel 20.

As illustrated, the back posts extend downwardly sufficiently far to place the casters 15 on the floor. It is conveivable that, if desired, the posts 13 and 14 could be cut off at the bottom of the bed frame 10 so that the entire weight of the sofa structure would be supported by the bed frame. It is preferred, however, to extend the posts downwardly, as illustrated. This serves a double purpose: first, it provides support for the sofa structure independent of the legs 11; second, it renders the entire structure more portable since, by simply lifting the front edge of the bed frame 10, the entire weight can be placed on the casters 15 so that the improved sofa-bed can be easily wheeled to any desired position. While the device has been described as a complete combination sofa and bed, it is conceivable that it could be considered as a sofa-forming attachment for a conventional bed frame or box.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is to be understood that the same may be varied within the scope of the appended claim, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

A sofa-bed combination comprising: a bed frame; a mattress pad carried by said frame; two upstanding posts secured to said frame in vertical, spaced relation; a fixed frame member secured to and extending horizontally between said posts above said bed frame; an elongated panel member hinged at one side to said fixed frame member; a sofa-back frame longitudinally hinged to the other side of said panel member, said panel member and said sofa-back frame lying parallel to and being foldable from a vertical position over and in line with said horizontal frame member to the position forwardly of said latter frame member and over said mattress pad; a toggle lock brace comprising two brace arms, said arm being pivoted together at a point offset from the longitudinal axis of said arms, one of said arms being hinged at its free end to said sofa-back frame the other of said arms being hingedly connected at its free end to said fixed frame member whereby when said arms are aligned they lock said sofaeback frame and said elongated panel member in the plane of said fixed frame member; a hinge at each extremity of said elongated panel member, the hinge axes extending transversally of the length of said panel member; and an end flap hingedly suspended at its upper extremity from each hinge so as to swing downwardly therefrom into contact with said fixed frame mem' ber when said panel member is folded forwardly so as to support said panel member and said sofa-back frame from said fixed frame member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,088,258 Brezinski Feb. 24, 1914 2,269,607 Steffen Jan. 13, 1942 2,352,961 Margulies July 4, 1944 2,465,863 Fox Mar. 29, 1949 2,673,354 McKay Mar. 30, 1954 2,709,817 Poyer June 7, 1955 2,957,182 Barrett Oct. 25, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 670,579 France Nov. 30, 1929 240,757 Switzerland May 1, 1946 173,277 Austria Dec. 10, 

